[KS] How to Write Korean Names in English?

[Sung-jin Yang]

Dear List Memebers,

Nobody predicted, at least back in the early 80s when the computer 
industry started to stir, that the two-digit way of indicating the year 
would result in today's costly and embarrassing Y2K problem.

Although a little bit different, a similar thing is happening in the 
transcription of Korean names into English.

For example,

The Korea Times, the newspaper at which I am employed, makes it a policy 
to write Korean names as follows: Kim Dae-jung, placing the surname 
first with a hyphen in between the two characters of the first name. 

International publishers such as The Economist, Time and Newsweek 
magazine however, have their own way: Kim Dae Jung, where the hyphen 
does not link the first name together.

Other newspapers, books and journals have even further differing methods 
of transribing Korean names.

Needless to say, the following possible combinations are rather 
frustrating and likely to cause confusion:

Kim Dae-jung
Kim Dae Jung
Kim Daejung
Kim DaeJung
Dae-jung Kim
Dae Jung Kim
Daejung Kim
DaeJung Kim
Kim, Dae-jung
Kim, Dae Jung.........


The list goes on, as does the confusion.
Even The New York Times seems to have been confused about how to write 
well-known author Ahn Junghyo's name, so the reporter uses the writer's 
surname as ``Mr. Junghyo'' in its book review.

Whom to blame? What to think about the government's policy on the 
standardized form of name transcription? What would be the most ideal 
form? Is it advisable to standardize the name system for international 
use at all? If not, what about the possible cost of time and effort that 
would arise in simply distinguishing and determining the surname and 
first name? Would doing away with any standardized form result in a 
problem with future digitalization of Korean names in English?

I would be interested in hearing opinions from readers on this issue
before going ahead conducting interviews with government officials and 
scholars concerned with the problem of romanizing Korean names. All the 
replies may be quoted (directly or indirectly) in my article on this 
issue. Should you wish to remain anonymous in the article, please say so 
in your reply. However, it would be helpful to receive as much 
information about your background and the grounds of your opinion.

Sincerely,

Yang Sung-jin

Culture Desk
The Korea Times


P.S. Yang is my family name.


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